Many homes severely damaged in Rensselaer, but no injuries reported

Updated 10:38 am, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A city woman escaped injury after stiff wind gusts during Monday's storms toppled a massive maple tree, wrecking half her two-story home on Sixth Avenue.

Around 6 p.m. Marilyn Roberts, 79, was in her upstairs bedroom at 1710 Sixth St. when a 60-plus mph microburst slammed into a towering maple tree in front of her home. She has lived in the wood-frame house for more than four decades.

Next-door neighbor Kate Brophy said, "I thought it was thunder. ... Then I looked out my windows and saw all these branches that were not where they were supposed to be."

Brophy saw that the old maple, with a trunk more than 5 feet wide, had smashed into her neighbor's home, leaving only the bedroom window on the second floor intact.

"I ran into the house in the pouring rain yelling, 'Marilyn, Marilyn, where are you?" Brophy said Tuesday as she watched a tree service remove the maple with a large crane. "I finally found her in her upstairs bedroom on the side of the house that was not hit. I helped her and her dogs out and took them to my place for safety. Then the firemen told me my house had to be evacuated as well and I have not been back in since."

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A crane removes a tree that fell on a house in Rensselaer when storms swept through the region on Monday, June 24, 2013. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

A crane removes a tree that fell on a house in Rensselaer when storms swept through the region on Monday, June 24, 2013. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

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1710 Sixth Street in Rensselaer was heavily damaged by a tree that came down in a thunderstorm Monday night. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

1710 Sixth Street in Rensselaer was heavily damaged by a tree that came down in a thunderstorm Monday night. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

A car is smashed near the intersection of Ash and Ninth streets in Rensselaer. The car was damaged by a tree brought down in Monday night's thunder storm. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

A car is smashed near the intersection of Ash and Ninth streets in Rensselaer. The car was damaged by a tree brought down in Monday night's thunder storm. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

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A very large tree hit and destroyed 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

A very large tree hit and destroyed 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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A good samaritan who asked that he not be identified removes branches from the front porch of 30 Ash Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

A good samaritan who asked that he not be identified removes branches from the front porch of 30 Ash Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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A Honda sedan lies under a tree on Ash Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

A Honda sedan lies under a tree on Ash Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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A large tree lies on a home at 2010 10th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

A large tree lies on a home at 2010 10th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Emilia Lee 3 gets a little lift in to the water by Mary Legnard Monday afternoon June 24, 2013 to cool off in the Lake Avenue kiddy pool in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Emilia Lee 3 gets a little lift in to the water by Mary Legnard Monday afternoon June 24, 2013 to cool off in the Lake Avenue kiddy pool in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Jeff Cannon of KT Tree Service cuts down the limbs to be mulched as a massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

Jeff Cannon of KT Tree Service cuts down the limbs to be mulched as a massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Kyle Trestizk of the KT Tree Service gives direction as he hangs from a crane as a massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

Kyle Trestizk of the KT Tree Service gives direction as he hangs from a crane as a massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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The chimney is lowered to the street as a massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

The chimney is lowered to the street as a massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Kyle Trestizk of KT Tree Service cuts limbs of a massive tree that is being removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

Kyle Trestizk of KT Tree Service cuts limbs of a massive tree that is being removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Kyle Trestizk of KT Tree Servce measures up one of the limbs of a massive tree which is being removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

Kyle Trestizk of KT Tree Servce measures up one of the limbs of a massive tree which is being removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

A massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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The chimney is lowered to the street as a massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the extreme heat to remove the remnants of the tree that destroyed the home where an elderly woman was brought to safety from the second floor after the storm. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

The chimney is lowered to the street as a massive tree is removed from the remains of a home at 1710 6th Street June 25, 2013 after a severe storm hit Rensselaer N.Y. last evening. KT Tree Service worked in the ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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A potted plant is blown by the wind and rain in front of DeLucia's Deli and Grocery Tuesday, June 25, 2013 in Malta, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

A potted plant is blown by the wind and rain in front of DeLucia's Deli and Grocery Tuesday, June 25, 2013 in Malta, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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A frog doesn't seem to mind all the rainy weather as he sits in a pond on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 in Malta, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

A frog doesn't seem to mind all the rainy weather as he sits in a pond on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 in Malta, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Storms wreak havoc

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The tree missed Roberts' bedroom by a few feet.

"Lucky is an understatement," Mayor Daniel Dwyer said. "She is elderly and just got out of the hospital. How she got out of there without a scratch I'll never know."

Roberts is staying with her son out of town, neighbors said.

Dwyer said Roberts' home likely will have to be razed. A home at neighboring 1702 Sixth St. sustained damage to its roof, and residents in four apartments there also were evacuated.

Elsewhere in Rensselaer, areas from Sixth through Tenth streets and cross streets received the brunt of the wind damage. Extensive damage with downed trees and power lines could be seen along Farley Drive in the upper Washington Avenue area. Eastland Park in that neighborhood also was hit hard, Dwyer said.

Using a large crane, a massive tree is removed from the remains of a house at 1710 6th Av in Rensselaer.

Media: Times Union

Terry Maloy stood on Tenth Street looking at a large silver maple that came down and brushed his bungalow.

"I really got lucky," Maloy said as the sound of chain saws could be heard in every direction in his neighborhood. "I was not at home and came home about 9:30 p.m. to see this."

Maloy said the tree caused some damage to his eaves.

Around the corner on Ash Street, Ted Davis and his family hid inside their home when the winds and heavy rains blew through.

"It was like a tornado and we came out to see complete and unbelievable wreckage and carnage up and down the street," Davis said. "The street was full of trees."

Several hundred homes and businesses were without power Tuesday morning in Rensselaer County, Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park, but most customers had power restored during the day, according to National Grid's website. Part of Glenridge Road in Glenville closed for a while after wires and trees fell.

Kevin Lipton, a weather service meteorologist, said trees were easily pulled from their roots because the ground has been saturated for weeks from unusually wet weather.

As of Tuesday morning, 5.59 inches of rain has fallen in Albany since June 1, nearly double the 3.06-inch average, according to weather service data.

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Another round of scattered thunderstorms hit Tuesday in parts of the Capital Region. More than 2,250 were without power in southern Washington County in midafternoon, but National Grid and New York State Electric & Gas restored power to all but about 100 customers by 9 p.m.